Coupling



Mal'Ch 17, V193:01. E, w DAVIS 1,796,833

COUPLING Original Filed March 18, 1926 Patented Mar. l'17, 1931 .,UNiTEDs'rATEs PATENr OFFICE ERNEST W. DAVIS, 0F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ALEMITE CORPORATION, OF

v CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE COUFLING Original application led March 18, 1926, Serial No.

95,688. Divided and this application led May 12,

1927. Serial No. 190,694.

My invention relates to lubrication, and more specifically to an improved coupling'for connecting the discharge tube, or opening, of a source of lubricant under pressure to means iiXed on the bearing, or machine element, to be lubricated for receiving such lubricant under pressure. p

This application is a division of my c0- pending application, Serial No. 95,688, filed March 18, 1926, for couplings.

An object of, the invention is to provide a new and improved coupling.

Another object is to provide a simple form of coupling which is economical to manufacture and which can be easily standardized for large production.

Another object is to provide a coupling in which the parts are easily accessible-Y and may be readily replaced.

Another object is to provide a coupling which is durable and certain in operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

The problem involved is unique on account of the small volumes to be handled, the relatively wide range and high upper limit of the pressures to be carried and the unusually obj actionable features from a service standpoint of even a very slight leakage. Thus, a relatively small quantity of lubricant is all 4that need be injected at each lubrication into an ordinary bearing and a moderate pressure is often suiiicient, but the equipment employed is usually capable of generating relatively high pressures of the order of magnitude of one thousand' pounds per square inch or more, for forcing the lubricant positively into places clogged with dirt or old lubricant, and

such high pressures are required at frequent intervals `in service. Furthermore, a very slight leakage soon soils the parts and destroy one of the main advantages rendering lubricating systems of the type involved superior Vto ordinary grease cups, viz. cleanliness.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a central section oi the two elements of my improved coupling showing them in separated relation; and i l Figure l2 is a similar section showing the two elements in coupled relation.

In the embodiment shown, the female couplng member comprises two sleeves, a rear, or inlet, sleeve 10 and a front, or discharge, sleeve 12. The tivo sleeves are of smooth.

'uniform configuration and identical diameter so that they appear in use as a single element. On the inside, one of the sleeves is enlarged as at 14 to form a shoulder, and

the threaded end 16 on the other sleeve engages the threads 18 in the rst sleeve to .fasten the parts together. The channel thus ends 28 of a pin 30 passing transversely through the tubular body V32 of a male coupling member, commonly referred to by the trade as a iitting. The fitting has a threaded tubular end portion 34 for attaching the same to a bearing, or the like, a smooth contact face 36 at its receiving end for forming a lubricant seal, and a shoulder at 38 forming a valve seat. The ball check valve 40 is held against the lscat 38 yby a suitable spring 4.2.

Theslots 26 are preferably provided with a return pocket or reversely inclined inner end portion such as shown in my Patent No. 1,401,7' 65, of December 27, 1921.

ln the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the valve comprises a valve memberproper 46, carrying a 'stud 48 for cen,-` tering the spring 24, and having a rigid stem 50. The valve proper 46 seats on an annular ring 52 of leather, fibre, or other material suitable for forming a tight seal,reinforced by a metal ring 54, both clamped in place by assembling the front and rear sleeves. The valve stem terminates in a reduoeid end portion 56 on which is carried afwasher 56g. This washer serves as aback support for the cup-shaped sealing member 58 of leather, or other suitable material. This cup leather is held in contact with the washer 56g by means of a light spring 60g confined between the being provided with a central opening 62 which coincides with a slot 66 in the valve stem 50 to provide a assage connectmg the inlet opening in the tting with the bore in the sleeve 12. The tension of the spring 24 is such as to establish an initial seal between the cup leather and the.end of the fitting before the valve 46 is raised from its seat and after the valve 46 has been opened, this initial seal being reinforced by the pressure of the lubricant acting on the inside of the cup leather 58 to force this cup leather against the end `of the fitting and the walls of the discharge sleeve 12. The reversely inclined parts 44 of the slots 26 serve merely to lock the fitting and the female coupling element in coupled relation, and prevent accidental disengagement thereof.

When the fitting is removed from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1, the valve 46 will move down on its seat due to the action of the comparatively strong spring 24 and simultaneously the lighter spring 60g will be further compressed between the cup leather 58 and the shoulder 64. As soon as the valve 46 has been firmly seated on the annular. seat 52, the forward movement of the valve, valve stem. and sealing washer ceases. The spring 60g merely serves to hold the cup leather 58 firmly against the washer 56g at all times and may,

therefore, be made comparatively weak andE 11"1ust, of course, be much weaker than thev spring 24. The use of the spring 60g to maintain the cup leather 58 in contact with the washer 56g instead of'dependin-g upon the I shoulder 64 to perform this function, as for instance, by locating the shoulder 64 in close proximity to the outer face of the cup leather when positioned as shown in Figure 2, results in the cup leather 58 being always held firmly against the washer 56g and also pro- ,vides a construction which adjusts itself to slight inaccuracies in manufacture, whereas,

`if the shoulder 64 were solely relied uponl to perform this function, a valve stem 50 whlchis slightly longer than normal would cause the cup leather 58 to strike the shoulder 64 before the valve 46 had closed and the cou- 1,7ee,sss

as many separate pieces. Thus, any or all of the parts which may have been worn by usage or damaged by the insertion into the coupling member of tools not intended for such use, may readily be replaced, or repaired and all the insides stacked together again and reassembled by threading the sleeves together.

Having thus illustrated and'described ay preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by `United States Letters Patent is:

1. A lubricant coupling member comprising a sleeve, means at one end of said'sleeve for drawing a receiving fitting into said sleeve, a valve seat in said sleeve,a valve having a` stem projecting outwardly through said seat, a valve spring back of said valve tending to seat said valve, a sealing gasket overlying the outer end of said stem, and a gasket spring` pressing said gasket gently against the end of said stem, said valve spring being under greater tension than said gasket spring. 1

v2,"A lubricant coupling member com rising a sleeve, means at one end of said s eeve for drawi-n a receiving fittinginto said sleeve, a va ve sent in said sleeve, a valve having a stem rejecting outwardly through said seat, a va ve spring back of said valve 'tending to close said valve, a sealing gasket,

and a gasket spring pressing said gasket gently against the end of saidstem.

3. A lubricant coupling-member'coqpris ing a sleeve, means at one end of said sleeve for drawing a receiving fittinginto said sleeve, a second sleeve secured to said first named sleeve, a valve seat clamped between said sleeves, a valve for cooperating with said seat, said valve having a gasket for effecting a seal with a receiving tting, a spring for closing said valve, and a second vllO spring for holding said gasket against-said -I valve, said springs ytending to move said valve in opposite directions.

4. A lbricant coupling member comprising conduit means, a valve seat therein, a valve for coacting with said seat, means for closing said valve, means for connecting said conduit means with a lubricant receiving fitting a stem for said valve projecting outwardly through said seat, a sealing gasket for contacting with the end of said stem, and resilient means for maintaining said sealing gasket firmly in contact with said stem, said means automatically adjusting itself to various lengths of valve stem.

5. A lubricant coupling member comprising a sleeve, means at one end of said sleeve for drawing a receiving 4fitting into said sleeve, a valve seat in said sleeve, a valve having `a stem projecting outward17 through said seat, a spring for closing said valve, a sealing gasket overlyin the outer end of said stem, said sealing gas et and stem having co-operat'ing openings for establishing communication between the outer face of said gasket and the opening through said valve seat, and means beyond said gasket for oontinually pressing said gasket against the end of said stem.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of May, 1927. ERNEST W. DAVIS.

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